Islanders website: Report the New York Islanders have acquired the rights to defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for the Islanders fourth round selection in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Several outlets: Report the obvious that Ehrhoff is a pending UFA, and this trade could be simply for exclusive negotiating rights until Friday, when he will be eligible to be signed by any other club.

NYIFC Comments:Obviously Garth Snow feels he needs a durable veteran who can produce some goals, but this is a boom or bust move with a very limited negotiating window. He could be traded again tomorrow if it's obvious Snow cannot work a contract.

Snow wants this player, he's going to have to offer over thirty million, he likely wants a big part of that front-loaded. His agent, Rick Curran, will not be giving any discounts.

Edit-Originally wrote former Islander Brian Curran.

The name Dan Hamuis for Atlantic teams a year ago was a bust.

Many will recall Hamuis was traded to Philadelphia last June 20th from Nashville. When the Flyers could not come to terms with him, he was traded a second time to Pittsburgh on June 26th for a third round pick.

Hamuis eventually signed in Vancouver after July 1st, the Islanders were reportedly another team in the mix after July 1st.

NHL.com: Dave Lozo does a good job putting out the economics here for Vancouver, along with what he would bring to New York if signed.

NHL.com: Brian Compton released an interview with Josh Bailey, Tuesday night, where the Ryan Strome pick was discussed, along with several topics. ***************************************So Katie Strang actually wrote something about front-loaded contracts? The kind twenty other clubs have not been giving out for the same reasons the Islanders have not. Sure it will be turned into a New York Islander-only issue, it's Cablevision's newspaper so that's how it's presented.

NYIFC has been writing about this problem since 2006, of course Cablevision's beatwriter may have still been in high school when Jason Blake, Ryan Smyth were getting front loaded contracts with many UFA from her employers team to say nothing of the massive front-loading around the league, which goes back to the Drury, Gomez, Briere contracts.

Sound Tigers Website: Report the New York Islanders announced Tuesday that Brent Thompson has been named head coach of their American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

“Brent’s background as a player and his recent success as the head coach of the Alaska Aces makes him the perfect fit to show our young prospects what it takes to play at the NHL level,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to serve as the head coach of the Sound Tigers,” Thompson said. “I look forward to working with Garth Snow, Jack Capuano and the entire Hockey Operations staff in developing the organization’s prospects into everyday NHL players.”

Thompson served as the head coach of the Alaska Aces in the ECHL the past two seasons. This past year, he led the Aces to a league-best 47-22-0-3 record and the club’s second Kelly Cup Championship in team history. Thompson also won the John Brophy Award as the ECHL Coach of the Year.

“I pat him on the back and wish him well. “A big piece with him is he understood the young guys and knew how to get the best out of them.’’

Thompson is a former NHL defenseman who prior to arriving in Anchorage served as an assistant coach for AHL Peoria for three seasons. Bridgeport is an affiliate of the NHL's New York Islanders.

NYIFC Comments:Little to add on the signing itself beyond the team he came from was a re-branded version of the Anchorage Aces. Butch Goring went there to coach after being fired by the Islanders here under an ownership that was broke.

Different circumstances now.

Obviously a coach with Thompson's ECHL success/AHL background has the experience to work at this level. Will Thompson have a good working relationship with Jack Capuano and perhaps change his system so players called up fit Capuano's system? His assistant was already in place.

2005 second round pick, Dustin Kohn and Jack Hillen have not been qualified.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio has a list (no idea if complete/final) of all NHL/AHL players not qualified here that apparently includes Robin Figren/Rob Hissey, who both signed overseas, but were eligible to be qualified anyway as Jeremy Colliton was.

Rob Schremp was not qualified by Winnipeg.

NYIFC Comments:These players will likely enter the market come 7/1, however any player not qualified can be re-signed at any time.

Not surprised about Jack Hillen. It was a good risk Snow took signing him at the cost of giving up a year of eligibility, which is why he played his first two games two games in the NHL. The depth chart speaks for itself that there is a lot of competition for jobs here on defense.

Former prospect Jared Spurgeon was not signed here after being drafted, he was initially invited to Minnesota's prospect camp last July. Some organizations are a better fit than others.

A lot of quality players around the NHL, were not given qualifying offers. Roster spots/cap space are tight.

2005/second rounder pick, Dustin Kohn, not being qualified means the final draft class of Mike Milbury's tenure can now be written here.

Outside of Ryan Smyth's brief time here, no positive impact on the NHL organization from the the class of 2005. Obviously not a formula for sustained success.

Working on newspaper/website comments from all the new players selected, and a perfect image of that great looking 40th Anniversary logo.

The NHL Draft is concluded, but business is ongoing.

The deadline to make qualifying offers to the teams restricted free agents is Monday at 5pm.

If Garth Snow was asked about who he qualified (as many professional beat-writers have asked respective general managers around the NHL), it did not make the local paper that controls New York Islander coverage as of this time. The beat-writer covering our team, keeps writing Ryan Jankowski, was dismissed two months after the Canadians hired him per their website?

Updated:Josh Bailey, Blake Comeau, Micheal Haley, Jesse Joensuu, Dylan Reese and Ty Wishart were qualified. Jack Hillen was not as of this time, but subject to change before deadline.

Michael Fornabaio tweeted: Dustin Kohn not on that list of qualified as of Sunday. Tomas Marcinko only other unsigned RFA, not likely to get qualified, this is also subject to change before deadline.

Ct Post: Mr Fornabaio has a bit more, but nothing new on qualifying offers to the Bridgeport centric-players.

Bruno Gervais, must now be qualified by Tampa on Monday.

Rob Hisey, Robin Figren are restricted, however both signed in Europe. It is possible Snow could qualify them, as he did with Jeremy Colliton.

Some quality players are already salary-cap casualties, who will not be qualified and on the market as unrestricted free agents on Friday.

NYIFC 6/12/11: Entry went into more depth on qualifying offers process and what is next in that process. ***************************************It was quite an interesting few days on the trade market with so many clubs scrambling to add/subtract cap space, or those which made outright huge trades, especially Minnesota-San Jose. Dale Tallon, who signed Brian Campbell to his contract with Chicago, traded for it once again in Florida.

As I wrote the other day, the CBA needs some changes, but it's working.

Hopefully Nikita Filatov becomes a star in Ottawa, same as I hoped he did with Columbus. Only issue here is the Columbus Dispatch beat-writers constant digs at the New York Islanders, but not the team they cover, for what was a player clearly mismanaged by the Bluejackets.

Fliatov also bears responsibility.

A lot of that going around this league in the media, knock other markets, not the one where paper needs local team advertising money. **************************************All I ever read is the Islanders are scrambling to reach the cap floor. Really?

The Islanders seemed to subtract Wisniewski/Roloson and still were over any cap floor last December? Hamonic's NHL contract was added early last season, Wishart's first-round contract was called up 2/5/11. Koskinen was called up with his contract, same with Poulin?

Don't believe everything you read in newspapers guessing, or fans sites doing cap numbers, that are not official NHL affiliate outlets. I understand in the absence of official league information folks will accept anything, however that does not make it correct.

How do you think Forbes decided to become NHL experts with only estimates?Our professional media also uses these kinds of sites now also, very sloppy. **********************************No issue here with Ryan Smyth doing whatever he is allowed to do within the framework of his contract. The Kings can always refuse his request. This is another advantage of front-loading, because Colorado paid the bulk of his money early, Los Angeles paid less, and now if he goes back to Edmonton they will pay the least.

His average cap-hit only helps Edmonton, it's money they will not pay him.

Updated:Smyth is finally a confirmed trade to Edmonton.

Darcy Regier really needed Ales Kotalik's three million salary that badly? Robyn Regehr is a solid player, but either Regier was watching old game films of Kotalik or he caught Terry Pegula in the honeymoon spending period?

Color me skeptical Ted Nolan, lasts very long now that Rochester is the Buffalo Sabres affiliate. Regier/Ruff go back to Nolan's time or replaced Nolan. Terry Pegula has his work cut out.

The lack of thanks/praise to former owner Tom Golisano, who kept that franchise going is not appropriate. **********************************The Islanders website coverage was frankly not good this weekend, virtually nothing archived (at least yet) from the scouts, or Snow in articles. Seemed to go video centric, and a lot of that was NHL-related.

A lot was done live with a team centric-ITV feed, it has not been made available as of yet.

Having written that those folks have been working very hard, and have had to go above and beyond for a while. Press conferences with Mangano at Coliseum, coverage in Las Vegas, in Minnesota, from the draft party.

Hopefully Wang meant his employees, when he praised the folks working round the clock, the other day. They sure do deserve it. ***********************************I understand the hype will start soon to add UFA.

Look at the current roster and how many players are signed? Not immune to trades, or signings, but as I have written every year, to add, you must subtract.

No folks, this team does not need Brad Richards front-loaded, likely over 50m dollars/hopefully without concussions. Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen, Strome, Nelson, Cizikas, Ullstrom, and all the other centers under contract are good enough unless Snow is looking ahead to UFA for Nielsen, who is not a five on five scorer.

If Snow trades Nielsen, includes in a defender (Eaton/Mottau/Jurcina) in a deal and them wants to make a run at Richards, that risk makes more sense.

You qualify Josh Bailey, put him at center, and leave him there, unless a team is offering a star player at Bailey's age. *************************************No idea what will happen with the goaltending. I do not like the idea of three top quality players, who need to be number one goaltenders sharing the work in Bridgeport, who's head-coaching search just got much tougher with all the AHL hiring by their parent teams.

I more than understand two are coming off surgery, same as at this level. No doubt the Islanders do not know how to proceed either. ************************************** As for NYIFC a free agency section will be setup Tuesday/Wednesday.I like the new sidebar format for information, sorry the old one failed during draft.Considering a twitter box for Islander centric/former players only here.

BRUNO GERVAIS HAS BEEN TRADED TO TAMPA BAY FOR FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS.TBO.com: Has comments from Gervais, and former Islander Nate Thompson. St Petersburg Times: Has more from Gervais, Tampa, on why they traded for him.

NYIFC Comments:Nothing but the best for Bruno Gervais. First class from day he was drafted, to his classy thank you tweet to the fans today.

NYIFC Comments:Impression is this is not a vote of confidence for Josh Bailey or Frans Nielsen long-term. Strome is a center, Cizikas, Ullstrom, Brock Nelson also centers, but the speed and scoring speak for themselves. Even I knew no way Larsson falls past Devils, the lottery drop was difference.

Okposo made pick, Weight, Weight, Snow on stage.

Islanders website has a Live Draft Board: to follow the NHL draft with all thirty teams.

Steve Stirling: released a statement thanking the fans in his recovery.

NYIFC will be covering the draft Friday-Saturday with frequent updates.

As written recently, NYIFC knowledge of this draft class is lacking, to speculate on the right player would be insulting to our readers.

NYIFC draft section, has been up for a good part of the month, with background information.

NYIFC Prospect blog, will add profiles for all the new prospects, shortly after the NHL draft.

In terms of the teams draft picks, you select the best player available on your draft board, regardless of position. This organization's unsigned prospect depth took a hit with some signings/non-signings/graduations, it needs to be replenished.

You can never have enough depth. End of cliche statements.*****************************************************Folks e-mailing about the cap not working? Disagree.

Of course, it needs some changes at the end of the CBA.

Bottom line, as high as spending is going, for twenty teams with no business going above forty million, without it corporate teams would have payrolls over a hundred million dollars, without being forced into unloading players.

Corporate teams do not care about bleeding red ink, the sports division is a small loss on the company books. The NHL cannot be about what corporation can afford the biggest loss for someone's ego/trophy purchase.

All you hear and read is revenue, that's not profit. If teams are spending 150m to generate 100m, the revenue number sounds great in print media, the team is still losing fifty million.

Ed Snider runs Philadelphia with all due respect to Paul Holmgren, the same man who authorized massive front-loaded deals over ten years for Richards/Carter, traded both to sign another massive front-loaded deal in Ilya Bryzgalov.

Patroit-News: Even has quotes Snider felt Bryzgalov had to be signed, with the writer putting the moves on the owner, not the general manager.

As short-sighted as his impulse decisions were to give out those contracts in the first place, without a hard cap, Comcast takes the hit, both are likely still Philadelphia Flyers.

Snider will be spending 7/1 on his flavor of the summer, at least there is a limit on contracts.

Now Columbus can add to it's 25m loss, the Kings have never been a profitable team back to the last lockout. Will those players reach their NTC clauses before being on the market again?

Next CBA has to drop the ceiling/floor, the massive front-loading, along with hiding bad contract decisions in the AHL.********************************Was there some reason NHL.com had to outright eliminate the Thrashers website?********************************Schedule is out folks, no hiding from tickets you have to purchase for all those early season weeknight games. This league is not going to tolerate four digit crowds anywhere much longer.

I also do not think it's unfair to speculate the Islanders were told other teams want to limit October weeknight games for a change.

How about a four out of seven to open the season vs New Jersey? Isles had a huge month of Devils long ago (five games?) but never three in a row?********************************Social Networking Days at 34th St, 9th avenue in Manhattan is not neutral territory, it's New York Islander County.********************************Only blog header re design's NYIFC is accepting in terms of uniform are the 1980 road jersey's with the Lake Placid patch. US greatest NHL dynasty, US greatest Olympic Hockey moment.********************************Status Quo out of Cablevision/Newsday on the Coliseum. No shock the coverage has been entirely negative. The silence from those who need the Dolan's to retain a living, speaks for itself.********************************This is the same Democrat, Kevan Abrahams who ripped the new Coliseum agreement yesterday, taking about property values/jobs in 2009.

With that kind of selective amnesia, he could blog about the Islanders.

All bipartisan, nothing to do with anything else.*********************************The new section is up at NYIFC for the 8.1.11 vote.Both Gregoire/Kessel past thirty day window.

TweetIslanders website: Report former Captain, Doug Weight, was announced as the King Clancy Memorial Trophy recipient, awarded to the player that best displays exceptional leadership qualities and commitment to their community.

Michael Grabner, did not win the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year here.

* Twenty six million is entire debt service, so total out there for the taxpayers is eight million assuming nothing is generated, so it's fifteen or sixteen dollars, not $ 58.00 that has been reported after a new building opens.

That assumes if no revenue comes in from other side of County on revenue sharing plan or worst case scenario.

In an related but separate announcement Tuesday, Kate Murray/TOH approved Coliseum re-zoning, which in essences means they approved their own plan from last summer here. The Lighthouse group was listed on meeting schedule 6/21.

Just to reiterate NYIFC set it's policy on sourced-based articles 7/10/2010.

Greg Cronin lied to a newspaper about returning to Northeastern University back in April he now will become an assistant coach in Toronto, with Scott Gordon.

Charles Wang/Scott Rechler spent close to twenty million dollar putting together the Lighthouse studies with the DGEIS, while attending two hundred meetings.

Wang, Ed Mangano (with others), can sort out the economic details, the politicians with NIFA can do their bipartisan dances.

What cannot be disputed was the past DGEIS documents the Lighthouse Group presented on the Islanders, Coliseum, tax and revenue impact on the community. The Lighthouse site itself may be gone, however the past economics still resonate today.

Wang and Rechler had a full economic summary of what other events at the Coliseum generated beyond hockey, along with the community.

NYIFC will have some blog entries during the draft weekend, all profiles will be added to the prospect blog.

Hockey will be picking up around here for the near future, a mix of blog entries and twitter updates.

Unfortunately the Nassau-Mangano sideshow will have to be worked in because the financing plan is due in June.

Setting The Agenda:Today 6/15 is the beginning of the buyout period and where teams can elect salary arbitration, that will be delayed until 48 hours after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals.

The NHL schedule was released last year on 6/22, we are getting close to that as well but late finals/Winnipeg-Atlanta could delay things a bit.

The Monday deadline after the NHL draft (perhaps before) we find out who the Islanders are qualifying among it's restricted free agents. My speculation is the handwriting is on the wall for classy Bruno Gervais, or at best, will be asked to accept a two-way contract.

How Do Qualifying Offers Work?Teams have to make a qualifying offer by the Monday after the NHL draft or lose the rights to a player. Qualifying offer means a guaranteed raise of ten percent in most instances, but a chance for another team to sign that player to an offer sheet after July 1st.

The player can accept the qualifying offer (which means he is signed) reject (the team keeps the player rights past 7/1 as an RFA) or the player/team can file for arbitration where the team can walk away from an award.

A rejection of the qualifying offer with neither side electing salary arbitration can lead to a stalemate with Wang law upon the club opening it's training camp.

Restricted Free Agency:I suspect Josh Bailey is looking for the same commitment Kyle Okposo just received.

Will he simply accept a qualifying offer after being moved from wing to center and back too many times? The center spot has Cizikas, Ullstrom and Brock Nelson in college, but this is Snow's targeted player he traded down for twice.

Blake Comeau has had back to back twenty goal seasons, we can debate his scoring droughts for large parts of those years when he needed to produce most and failed to do so, however I cannot see simply accepting a qualifying offer which could make him a trade-able commodity or someone headed to arbitration.

Jack Hillen showed good offensive flashes in the second half and Snow signed him out of Denver as a free agent, but it's going to be interesting to see if he accepts a qualifying offer after he gained a year of eligibility with his first agreement which was why he played those two NHL games at the end of 2007-08.

Ty Wishart was his return for Roloson and got a max contract, there is Katic, Donovan, Ness with Calvin deHaan entering the final year of his ELC so a lot of competition.

Jesse Joensuu I'm not sure has a lot of options beyond accepting if qualified. The organizational depth chart beyond Bridgeport is smaller with a lot of turnover, but a new class of prospects coming.

I do not know if the Islanders see Dylan Reese beyond a short-term serviceable option. Like what I saw from Katic a lot with his skating, plus there are big decisions on Dustin Kohn to be made with Donovan, Ness, Klementyev. ********************************As For The UFA:Streit, MacDonald, Hamonic, Mottau, Eaton, Jurcina are all signed.

There is Hillen and a lot of defenders with deHaan after that. I would like to see Radek Martinek return, however he's likely going to test the market and all the teams that know he is an excellent defender, will find out first hand and pay extra to land him.

I would not mind seeing a trade of Eaton or Mottau, both have been around the team recently if it means a signing of Martinek. Don't tell me it's to sign Joni Pitkanen with his five goals, minus rating and thirty points with his four powerplay goals in the last three years.

A lot of players here already can do that with more upside.

Would not mind seeing the club go back to it's plan from last summer and making an offer to Wisniewski with a healthy Mark Streit if not Martinek?

Only thing that can be counted on are injuries. ************************************My thoughts on Zenon Konopka are his two goals and minus fourteen are not enough at even strength to give him any kind of big raise. At any price the two goals from Konopka at a center position where Nielsen-Bailey's even strength numbers were not enough must be better overall.

Steve Yzerman in Tampa let Konopka walk away, kept Nate Thompson and was rewarded while Tim Jackman went to Calgary and produced like he never did here. Matt Martin was less visible last year as opposed to his rookie year mostly playing a fourth line role with Konopka as his center.

It does not necessarily mean Konopka is directly responsible for that, Martin could have held back Konopka and we all know Trevor Gillies is not going to produce often.

Of course a team with six hundred man game lost is going to have big problems. Maybe if Konopka is resigned he makes the same offensive leap Thompson and Jackman did because he has produced goals in the AHL?

The difference between Konopka's production vs Jackman and Thompson could have been all the difference in so many one goal regulation losses whicht finished the season in October, November, and early December.

Konopka's interviews, popularity, face-offs, penalty killing and fighting are all good, however in the end your fourth line has to outscore the other teams fourth line.

This could go either way and I have no problem with Ullstrom, Cizikas centering a fourth line with Hunter and Martin next year as Gillies/Haley are retained with two-way contracts.

What I can write is Konopka has a ton of fighting mileage and looked hurt at the end of last year. He's still somewhat of a young player, but had hand issues from fights.

The fans are not in the room so character, popularity and media save count for something on a team with no media, but still it's about winning and your fourth line outscoring the other teams.

It's everything on a team that lost all those close one goal games.

I can also see why the club should go after former Islander, Mike Rupp on 7/1 with his twenty three goals the last two years to go with his big size and fighting ability.

As for the rest I would have no problem with Snow finding someone to take Trent Hunter's contract but he would be selling at his lowest return, an injured player at two million the next two seasons is not an easy trade.

How Is Garth Snow Going To Reach The Cap Floor? Anyone ever consider Wisniewski and Roloson'salaries were traded, Wishart was sent to Bridgeport for a long time, and even with all these injuries the club was not under the cap floor?

That tells me the club was well above the cap floor. Hamonic's contract was brought up long before Wisniewski was traded.

A lot of media rhetoric. You have a lot of young players, top picks making max contracts per CBA. Nielsen, MacDonald signed great contracts for less money over longer term.

Jussi Jokinen and Rob Scudei used to be waiver wire fodder, you identify players who can fit your organization and draft well, your club will be successful for a sustained period as long as you don't lose six hundred man games to injury.

Garth Snow did the perfunctory interview on Monday, ten days before the draft with Cablevision's Newspaper. Snow, as usual, said a lot, but nothing all at which is completely appropriate for the circumstances.

In short, picture any possible scenario with the teams top pick according to Snow. Most of the top prospects will be coming to New York for interviews.

Even a fan blog could have speculated all those possible results.

Katie Strang had more rust on her reporting than Evgeny Nabokov in Slovakia.

Ms Strang had the following very sloppy errors:1-That Ryan Jankowski was dismissed by the Islanders in September. In fact, he was hired by the Montreal Canadians on 7/27/2010 with twenty one year Ranger European scout, Christopher Rockstrom, which the team (or Newsday) did not even report when he was dismissed.

2-That the Islanders will be without Jankowski for the first time since 2007.

Jankowski was named Islanders Chief European Scout in 2003. He gave interviews in 2006 & December 2005.

Before that Jankowski worked one season in North America for the Islanders, starting his career scouting six seasons for the WHL Spokane Chiefs. He was also a video coordinator for Canadian Junior teams here.

3-Strang once again played the " bristled card " in what she reported was a phone interview about Snow's reaction to the size of scouting staff? We got the same bristled tag from Strang in April about DiPietro in what is becoming a familiar pattern.

If Ms Strang cannot report facts correctly her viewpoint of someone's reaction during a phone call must be questioned. Snow has responded many times on the clubs scouting staff.

Strang unfortunately did not get quotes (or a no comment) from Snow on qualifying the clubs restricted free agents/signing their own unrestricted free agents, or anything about Blake Kessel/Jason Gregiore.

For those speculating the Islanders had to give a qualifying offer to these players immediately upon turning professional, or the thirty day rule did not apply would not be correct. There is only one criteria for these players, the Blake Wheeler rule.

Yearly qualifying offers are for CHL prospects or players like Anders Nilsson received last summer with Casey Cizikas.

Gregoire is likely an UFA around 6/17, Kessel around 6/24 based on thirty day rule vs time-frame these stories broke in professional media. ********************************The Islanders official radio station out of Hofstra started a weekly radio program in May. Chris King, who has done interviews with several of the players, Garth Snow, Mike Bossy, Barry Landers, who used to call the clubs games on radio long ago are also interviewed.

NYIFC Comments:Great work and a weekly show with player/management comments is something of interest. Having written this another example the Islanders media does work well in getting out it's message because no one knows about it.

A weekly show is something the teams website should feature every single week, with times/upcoming guests and an archive easy to find.

I'll see what can be done here at NYIFC so you can directly access the weekly archive from here. ********************************Times & Transcript: Has a complete interview with PA Parenteau at the annual Moncton Wildcats Golf tournament, which included Andrew MacDonald, Ted Nolan and Chico Resch.

NHLPA: Reported Mike Cammalleri, and former Islander, Chris Campoli, were named to the league's competition committee.

NYIFC Comments:What's Mike Cammalleri going to do besides chop players from behind as his version of competition? ********************************The NHL Finals will have a game seven. It's been a sad show reading the Boston and Vancouver media turn into glorified salesman/fans for the home teams papers and advertisers. Too many days off for a sport which will finish after basketball, who began a month later.

Tim Thomas has won me over, sloppy style and all.

Anything can happen in a game seven but each series has trends, this one has the 2002 Islanders-Leafs trend that the home team wins every game.

I do not see Boston breaking that trend in game seven.

Roberto Luongo could use some media relations lessons from Dwayne Roloson, I'm aware he praised Thomas also and not all he said was reported in every article. ********************************Want to know what Larry Brooks sees when he looks in the mirror? Mike Milbury.

Milbury's inappropriate comments about the Sedins reflect many of the same things Brooks has written about European players, including Radek Martinek.

A few years ago when former Ranger goon, Ryan Hollweg, was pulling out Radek Martink's stitches here Brooks conduct was frankly pathetic after Martinek had a few postgame words.

Martinek's a classy man who has worked hard to interview in two languages, most NHL media have enough problems with one.

Milbury also drafted the Sedin's old line-mate in Mattias Weinhandl.

Now go cover baseball, Mr Brooks. The Post will not be sending you to game seven because it's too expensive and hockey is not relevant in baseball's largest market.

Like it or not, Mike Milbury's views will be center stage, not that of the NY Post or your views.

Nothing new announced on a full Coliseum financing agreement, but this blog has been getting questions so I wanted to post the graph on the Nassau County Website and cut through a little red-tape with a clear overview.

Kate Murray will have her Frederick P Clark meeting/zoning dance soon. Al Damato's daughter will head a newly created Nassau Human Services department at $105,000-a-year via Mangano's office, the RFP on baseball stadium is due 6/16/2011.

First off, the good news is Steve Stirling was visited by the Binghamton Senators with the AHL Calder Cup, and all reports to date are he is in stable condition.

The Islanders website/twitter/facebook lack of acknowledgment of support to a man who was here in the 90's when our prospects were bouncing from Lowell, to Springfield is nothing short of disgraceful.

Steve Stirling deserves a ton of support from his only NHL employer and inaugural Bridgeport coach, who took them to the Calder Cup finals.

First class individual. **************************Done calling out the fans to purchase tickets. This blog reviewed the history of the lack of fan support since 1989. Two entries were done, if the team leaves someday (sooner or later) feel free to go back and read them. This blog tried. ***************************Do I care about all these legal challenges to an 8/1 vote via Cablevision's local paper? (never anything positive on Coliseum referendum)

Not at this time, which was also in LIBN.

Goes without writing Cablevision's paper is the ONLY publication in New York not blasting James Dolan for his latest sports disgrace in Donnie Walsh's resignation/dismissal/whatever spin they wish to apply. Nothing like being scared to death of the boss. This is the same Alan Hahn who used to unload on Wang?

Was funny to read former Newsday employee Johnette Howard unload on Dolan.******************************So that's one New York Islander program on Msg (never live game/anything else) and a thousand or so for the teams they own? Bigger miracle was producing Arbour, Torrey, Westfall, Nystrom, Gillies, Potvin at the Nassau Coliseum doing interviews.

It was incredibly well done, they could produce a thousand such shows for our team but why do that when it would hurt Msg? Next time leave Dolan's used-car salesman Al Trautwig home and let baseball Howie go on assignment from baseball as he does during hockey season.

Speaking of which hopefully this is the summer Howie Rose's hockey career here comes to an end. Billy Jaffe came from Atlanta, time to find someone who particularly cares.

Yes, even if the Dolan's have to pay Howie to go away and make up for the money they saved bouncing Jaffe for Goring. (who was already under contract)******************************Fox Business Dog and Pony Act on television regarding Coliseum? Worthless. Cannot get Picker's name right and cut off another interview before David Denenberg could answer. Wang was smartest of all to avoid this foolishness.

When Mangano, Wang release full economic details/Murray does her clown act zoning from TOH, then we will know, but revenue sharing means just that, it's not profit sharing.

Not one word pushing the plan from Murray since she left Coliseum that day, usual horrible job. ******************************No research done on draft, I will add profiles to who the Islanders select when the draft happens in two weeks. Will be satisfied with whoever they select as long as they don't go miles off board.

Always best player available. ******************************New York Islanders already had the better Drury here in Ted. This is why I have made point here long and loud about front-loaded contracts. Chris Drury got the bulk of his cash already, that's why players want cash up front to avoid losing money later in buyouts.

It's why they sign with corporate teams that can write off the red ink.

Cablevision is nearing it's pre-lockout level of 80m between contracts hidden in the AHL or buyouts. That means they are again losing 25-40m or perhaps more because of very high expenses. ******************************Mike Milbury was right in saying the Chara trade brought the franchise instant credibility and they needed Yashin's production. It's the last time the seats were filled with any regularity.

He's also so painfully arrogant and annoying it's a tough choice between Boston or the equally arrogant Vancouver media as to who I prefer lose this series? ******************************I do not see major changes coming and would be shocked if Garth Snow traded Josh Bailey at this age. Jeff Carter (if he were the return) is no lock to solve any problems and ties up the club with another ten year contract.

Says a lot Philadelphia gave Carter a NTC only after the early years, he can be moved anywhere right now. Nothing like having Tim Panaccio selling every move for his boss, Ed Snider/Comcast via CSN.

Jeff Carter is also a massive front-loaded contract via corporate Comcast. ******************************So the Times, Post had financial resources to send writers to Boston for the finals and even the Daily News had money for a little coverage? Guess that means Peter Botte or a full time reporter/blogger for the Islanders and Devils will be hired for next season? ******************************I like Konopka, Gillies, Haley (and Matt Martin) but it's about producing as a fourth line better than the other fourth lines. If one or all of them are back or not, no big deal. (besides young Martin) A fourth line center (Konopka) cannot be a minus fourteen after a minus eleven in Tampa.

Funny man with the media, I'm not in the locker-room but he's likely well-regarded by the players but it comes down to the best player for the spot. It may be Konopka, it could be Ullstrom, Cizikas, or someone else. ******************************Rick DiPietro is not even scheduled to make any appearances or is even advertised on the teams website, is he paid now to be hidden? ******************************Anyone else think Bill Guerin picked up a phone after Doug Weight's press conference and asked the Penguins for a job? It's a move Pittsburgh should have made last fall. Perhaps they did? ******************************Silly season for Islander fans and limited media start soon. This is time where they ignore all players under contract for next season (or contract limits) and start writing about players coming without looking at a depth chart like it's some kind of video game.

NYIFC is not allergic to trades or adding players but please stop adding left wings to Moulson, Grabner, Comeau, Martin or centers to Tavares, Bailey, Nielsen or right wings to Okposo, Parenteau, Hunter, Niederreiter before you subtract someone first.

You want a defender sounds great. Streit, MacDonald, Hamonic, Jurcina, Mottau, Eaton are all signed with Hillen, Gervais, Wishart, Katic, DeHaan and other beyond that.

And Martinek is an UFA.

There are six goaltenders now here under contract between New York and Bridgeport.

Same as every year, you want to add, you have to subtract. ***************************Another flat out priceless winner of a column from Kerry Fraser on Islanders general manager, Garth Snow during his final playing season TSN.ca***************************The people making claims on Kessel-Gregiore being UFA on 6/1 are wrong, which includes Michael Fornabaio. It's thirty days via Blake Wheeler rule from letter to being able to sign elsewhere unless they submitted letter declaring intentions to turn professional on 5/1.

That's why you will not see any report of them signing anywhere besides the New York Islanders until thirty days pass. ***************************

NHL.com & Binghamton Senators Website: Report former New York Islander and Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach Steve Stirling experienced chest pains while at the Broome County Veterans Memorial Sunday afternoon.

Coach Stirling was then taken to UHS Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City where he underwent successful quadruple bypass surgery and is now resting comfortably.

Coach Stirling will not travel with the team to Houston for their remaining games in the 2011 American Hockey League Calder Cup Finals.

The Binghamton Senators organization asks the fans and the community for their thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery for Coach Stirling.

Press Connects: Is the primary coverage outlet of the Binghamton Senators, who are in the Calder Cup Finals.

NYIFC Comments:NYIFC thoughts and prayer for a quick and speedy recovery for Steve Stirling. A first class gentlemen, who guided the Islanders to the 2004 playoffs and the inaugural Bridgeport Sound Tigers to the Calder Cup Finals.

A lot of other markets want teams, the next time the Quebec fans come here it will not be for the Thrashers.

Sorry if the last entry was rough for a few folks, but this is the reality. We either show up and support this team in the stands now or there will no longer be a hockey team here.

Call the Islanders up, find a ticket plan and figure out a way to attend as many games as possible. There is no other alternative.

Forget Wang, Mangano, the arena referendum (of course vote if you can) the roster, winning or anything else. The stands have to be filled and remain filled.

This is beyond any owner now or in the future.

It cannot work here being at the bottom in attendance for one more season.

We can no longer base our attendance on waiting to win and then showing up, you have to give Nassau, Wang, or a potential new owner a reason to keep this franchise here because it can work and show the fan support is there.

It does not matter if the Coliseum is the second oldest or the newest. It does not matter if Charles Wang continues to own this franchise or not because he's approaching seventy years old. What happened in Atlanta can and will happen here and that was a modern facility that outdraws this franchise.

Atlanta was moved with practically no advance notice, they had a modern building but as soon as the ownership had enough, that was the end. Bettman could not stop it nor did the city of Atlanta demand ASG hang in to find a buyer. The league for now runs Phoenix and that city is paying the league 25m again to subsidize the losses.

This referendum gives Nassau an excuse-free out if not supported, Mangano may well allow Wang to terminate his lease. But even more importantly if 15,000 fans are not at every game, none of that is going to matter any longer.

Our fans have to show up for games now, there is no time left for anything else.

People at the games is what brings local interest or a buyer, an eventual compromise or plan to construct a new building come after that.

Nothing is more important if you value this franchise remaining here.

Sure we can go through the motions here and write about drafts, trades, free agency or a referendum, it means nothing ultimately if the club moves to another location outside New York.